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Wednesday, 12 March 2014

MPs WANT TO BE IMMUNE FROM ARREST

Some members of the Swaziland Parliament say
they should not be arrested if they break the law because they are ‘Very
Important People.’

They are particularly aggrieved that police
officers have been arresting them for what the MPs call ‘petty crimes’.

This emerged from the kingdom’s Ministry of
Justice and Constitutional Affairs portfolio committee.

The Swazi
Observer reported, ‘As dignified citizens, members of parliament
have declared they do not want to be arrested on the streets for petty crimes.’

The newspaper added, ‘According to the MPs, it was very embarrassing for
them to be held on the streets for petty crimes because as legislators, they
would not run away from the hands of justice.’

The Observer said, ‘They said
once one became a member of parliament, they fell under the category of very
important persons (VIPs) and it would be a shocker to have someone in this
category run away from his or her crime because they were known.’

It added, ‘Of major concern from the legislators was the fact that some
of the police officers who were found on roadblocks did not even recognise who
they were with regards to their status.

‘They alleged that they were treated in a bad way such that one felt
embarrassed that being an MP did not even accord them any status.’

A police spokesperson told the newspaper that for the time being police would
continue arresting individuals found to be on the wrong side of the law,
regardless of their position.

The Observer, which is in
effect owned by King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s
last absolute monarch, reported, ‘According to the constitution, only His
Majesty the King and the Queen Mother are above the law.’